Locking hair sticks

ABSTRACT

A hair-retaining device to be worn on the head comprising two attached hair sticks with two locking beads connected to each of the hair sticks. The hair sticks retain a portion of a user&#39;s hair between the hair sticks and between the locking beads.

This application is a divisional of patent application Ser. No. 10/927,252 filed on Aug. 25, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention and method relates to a hair fastener. More particularly, to hair sticks comprising locking beads for connecting two hair sticks and for fastening hair there between.

2. Description of Prior Art

Many people like to fasten their hair into various styles. One popular way to fasten hair is to use hair sticks. Hair sticks are effective, however, they are difficult to use because the user has to tightly wrap the hair around them and try to secure them into their hair. The current invention allows the user to secure two sticks in the hair at the same time and to easily secure the two sticks to the user's hair by attaching two locking beads to couple the sticks together.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an instrument that is convenient, practical, and inexpensive for use in hair styling.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will keep a plurality of hair sticks attached together.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will keep hair secure between two hair sticks.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will keep hair secure between two locking beads that are attached to the two hair sticks.

A further object is to provide such an instrument that can be used unassisted by the individual styling their hair, eliminating the expense of a professional stylist.

A further object is to provide an instrument that can be reused over and over again.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will quickly hold the user's hair up in a neatly secured style.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided two hair sticks attached toward one end, by a locking bead, to form a tong-like member. The hair sticks are also connected toward the opposite end by a second locking bead.

According to the arrangement described above, the second locking bead is taken off the hair sticks. The hair sticks are placed into the user's hair and the second locking bead is secured to the hair sticks by pressing a button on the bead to align the holes, placing the sticks through the bead holes and sliding the first locking bead and the second locking bead toward the captured hair section to secure the hair between the hair sticks and the two locking beads.

Accordingly a preferred embodiment, the hair sticks are made of plastic and have ridges, detents, dimples, or a rubberized coating along them to keep the bead from sliding back toward the opposite direction they were slid from. Both the first locking bead that holds the hair sticks in the tong-like position and the second locking bead are plastic “cord-lock” like members. The type with a spring-loaded button used on drawstrings and the like. The cord-lock member bead is a spring loaded bead comprising a separate button member with a hole in its side; the button member mates to the bead by placing the button member into an opening in the bead with a spring intermediate the button member and the bead; the spring makes the hole in the button member not line up with the hole in the bead when the button member is not pressed by the user; the sticks pass through the bead by pressing the button until the hole in the button aligns with the hole in the bead.

A double holed cord-lock like member could also be used with one stick through each hole. Further, additional cord-lock type members can be added to secure additional sections of hair between the hair sticks and between the additional cord-like type member and the one added previously.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated locking hair sticks, generally designated by reference numeral 1, embodying the present invention. The locking hair sticks 1 comprise a first hair stick 2 and a second hair stick 3. Both hair sticks 2 and 3 have ridges 4 along their length. Each end of the hair sticks 2 and 3 have a locking bead 5 and 6 attached thereto. Each locking bead 5 and 6 consist of a hollowed member 7 and a button member 8 both the hollowed member 7 and the button member 8 has a hole 9 and 10. The hollowed members 7 have a second hole for 15 The button member 8 is snapped into the holes 15 with a spring 11 there between. In use, FIG. 2 and 3, the button members 8 are pressed to align the holes 9 and 10 in order to place the hair sticks 2 and 3 into the locking bead 5. The first bead 5 is placed onto the sticks 2 and 3 and slid toward the end. The tension from the spring 11 along with the ridges 4 keep it in place after being slid. The sticks 2 and 3 are placed in the hair. Finally, the second locking bead 6 is placed on the sticks 2 and 3 and both the first locking bead 5 and the second locking bead 6 are slid toward the captured hair section to secure the style. Referring to FIG. 4 each locking bead 5′ and 6′ has a different/sepparate hole 13 and 14 for each stick 2′ and 3′. The use is the same (not shown) as above, however, the button members 8′ are pressed to align both holes on each bead 5′ and 6′ in order to place the hair sticks 2′ and 3′ each into a separate hole.

The present invention being thus described, the same may be varied in many ways. For instance, the hair sticks can be made of any material such as wood and additional beads can be attached to the sticks to capture additional hair sections. Further, any way to use the present invention obvious in the art should apply. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such variations obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims, 

1. A hair retaining device comprising two rigid stick portions, each includes a first end and a second; both stick portions are attached to each other by a first locking bead and a second locking bead which are located away from both of the first and second ends, thereby forming a first open end and second open end between the stick portions; the first locking bead and the second locking bead comprise a button member with a hole in its side; the button member mates to each locking bead by placing the button member into an opening in the locking bead with a spring intermediate the button member and the locking bead; the hole in the button member is not lined up with the hole in the bead when the button member is not depressed; wherein the locking bead can be attached to the sticks by pressing the button until the hole in the button member aligns with the hole in the locking bead. When the locking bead is placed on the stick portions and slid in place, the button is released, wherein the pressure from the spring between the button member and the locking bead pushes the button member against the sticks keeping the locking bead from sliding back in the opposite direction from which the sliding bead was slid along the stick portions, until the user presses the button member to remove the locking bead; and each of the stick portions having an outer textured surface, the outer textured surface being selected from the group consisting of ridges, detents, dimples, or a rubberized coating along its length to further keep the sliding bead from sliding, whereby a section of hair may be neatly secured between the stick portions by attaching and sliding the second locking bead toward the first locking bead with the hair there between.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each locking bead and each button member has a separate hole for each stick to be inserted.
 3. A method of retaining hair of a person comprising steps of: providing a hair retaining device comprising two rigid stick portions, each includes a first end and a second; both stick portions are attached to each other by a first locking bead and a second locking bead which are located away from both of the first and second ends, thereby forming a first open end and second open end between the stick portions; the first locking bead and the second locking bead comprise a button member with a hole in its side; the button member mates to each locking bead by placing the button member into an opening in the locking bead with a spring intermediate the button member and the locking bead; the hole in the button member is not lined up with the hole in the bead when the button member is not depressed; wherein the locking bead can be attached to the sticks by pressing the button until the hole in the button member aligns with the hole in the locking bead. When the locking bead is placed on the stick portions and slid in place, the button is released, wherein the pressure from the spring between the button member and the locking bead pushes the button member against the sticks keeping the locking bead from sliding back in the opposite direction from which the sliding bead was slid along the stick portions, until the user presses the button member to remove the locking bead; and each of the stick portions having an outer textured surface, the outer textured surface being selected from the group consisting of ridges, detents, dimples, or a rubberized coating along its length to further keep the sliding bead from sliding, placing the stick portions into or around a section of hair with the second locking bead unattached; inserting both stick portions adjacent the second end through the hole of the second locking bead; sliding the bead toward the section of hair, whereby the section of hair is neatly secured between the first locking bead and the second locking bead.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein each locking bead and each button member has a separate hole for each stick to be inserted. 